The Desert Rats
“They crawled their way across the blazing sands of Africa... to turn disaster into victory!”
In North Africa, German Field Marshal Rommel and his troops have successfully fended off British forces, and now intend to take Tobruk, an important port city. A ramshackle group of Australian reinforcements sent to combat the Germans is put under the command of British Captain MacRoberts. The unruly Aussies immediately clash with MacRoberts, a gruff, strict disciplinarian, however this unorthodox team must band together to protect Tobruk from the German forces.
Where to watch The Desert Rats in United States
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
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Fandango At HomeClick a service to open The Desert Rats there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is The Desert Rats streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | — | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| United Kingdom | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Canada | — | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| Australia | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| France | Molotov TV | — |
About The Desert Rats
The Desert Rats is a 1953 English-language war and action film directed by Robert Wise. The cast is led by Richard Burton, James Mason, Robert Newton. It has a runtime of 1h 28m. Viewers rate it 6.3/10 across 100 ratings. In United States, it is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
The Desert Rats was produced by 20th Century Fox and made in United States of America. It was released on March 26, 1953, and carries a NR certification.
- Director
- Robert Wise
- Writers
- Richard Murphy
- Release date
- March 26, 1953
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- NR
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
- Production
- 20th Century Fox
The Desert Rats cast & crew
The Desert Rats was directed by Robert Wise and written by Richard Murphy.
The cast features Richard Burton as Captain "Tammy" MacRoberts, James Mason as Field Marshal Erwin von Rommel, Robert Newton as Tom Bartlett, Robert Douglas as General, Torin Thatcher as Col. Barney White, and Chips Rafferty as Sgt. "Blue" Smith.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Leigh Harline, cinematography is by Lucien Ballard, and it was produced by Robert L. Jacks.
Is The Desert Rats worth watching?
The Desert Rats holds an audience score of 6.3/10 from 97 ratings, a solidly received war films.
At 1h 28m, it's an easy, time-light watch.
If you enjoy war and action, The Desert Rats is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Desert Rats
The Desert Rats isn't on a subscription service in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of The Desert Rats
Richard Burton
Captain "Tammy" MacRoberts
James Mason
Field Marshal Erwin von Rommel
Robert Newton
Tom Bartlett
Robert Douglas
General
Torin Thatcher
Col. Barney White
Chips Rafferty
Sgt. "Blue" Smith
Charles Tingwell
Lt. Harry Carstairs
Charles Davis
Pete
Ben Wright
Mick
Patrick Aherne
English Officer (uncredited)
John Alderson
Corporal (uncredited)
Frank Baker
British Officer (uncredited)
The Desert Rats — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Desert Rats in United States?
The Desert Rats is not on subscription streaming in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies.
▸What language is The Desert Rats in?
The Desert Rats is originally in English, with audio tracks including German, English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Desert Rats?
The Desert Rats runs 1 hours 28 minutes (88 minutes).
▸What is The Desert Rats rated?
The Desert Rats is rated NR. It holds a 6.3/10 audience score from 97 ratings.
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